Plastic bag ban

The West Australian

Video1/5 shoppers still oppose the ban on single use plastic bags.

An abusive customer put his hands around the throat of a Woolworths employee in a case of plastic bag rage that has prompted calls from the shop workers’ union for people to be considerate towards retail staff.

The shocking incident last Saturday in Mandurah was among dozens of abusive incidents involving retail staff after Woolworths made the decision to remove single-use plastic bags from its stores before a Statewide ban begins tomorrow.

Woolworths WA general manager Karl Weber said police had been contacted and the worker was being supported.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association assistant secretary Ben Harris said the union had been told a worker was assaulted by an irate customer after being told there were no single-use plastic bags.

“A male customer in the self-serve area swore loudly at a female worker,” Mr Harris said. “She provided him with some complimentary bags and apologised.

“He made a mistake by scanning an item twice, the worker came to help him remove it and he walked up behind her and put his hands around her throat.”

Camera IconBag fury at Woolworths Greenfields.Picture: Michael Wilson

A survey of more than 100 Woolworths staff conducted by the SDA on Thursday found dozens of cases of abuse and problems with unhygienic reusable bags, with staff reporting dead cockroaches, mouse droppings and pet fur in bags.

“I’m being told that I’m money-grabbing scum,” one retail worker said in the survey.

“I’ve had shopping tossed back at my work station.”

Another worker said: “A customer told me we are f..... for doing it before the date. He also told me he will never buy a f...... bag from us. Another customer left all their shopping, told us we are useless, and walked out.”

The SDA has launched a campaign warning people not abuse retail staff over the bag ban.

Mr Harris said: “The key take-away for customers is to behave appropriately, ensure that their reusable bags are hygienic and don’t overload their bags because it could hurt them or the worker in handling it.”

A Woolworths spokesman said workers would be “supported through the transition”.

“The vast majority of customers have been respectful and supportive,” he said.

Camera IconA number of incidents in Woolworths’ around WA have been sparked by the introduction of a plastic bag ban.Picture: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images